The purpose of an ecological portfolio is to research and acknowledge the systemic injustices faced in the community we teach in. It is an eye-opening experience and is intended to influence the way we address our pedagogy considering the circumstances of our students and their community, as well as discover the assets in the community that can aid students in their social, emotional, and academic development. Where do my students live? Are there any biases that are placed on my students in their community? Do my students feel safe in their community? If not, how can I influence change in the community? These are questions that educators should be asking themselves once they've completed an ecological analysis of their students' community. Click on the image below to view the data I collected for Atlanta Public Schools, Drew Charter School Junior Academy, as well as nearby schools in correlation to Drew Charter Schools to witness the racial disparity between disciplinary action, content mastery, socioeconomic status, college and career readiness, and students with disabilities:

Data Analysis

As I was researching, I noticed a major disparity between black students and the other races of students when it came to disciplinary action. I brushed it off because there is a surplus of black students in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) as a district. However, Howard Middle School is a majority white school and black students were still being disciplined the most by a landslide. In terms of other aspects, there were clear economical disparities between Howard Middle and the other schools, specifically King Middle and Kindezi which were both at a 100% economic disadvantaged rate compared to Howard's 23.8%. When it came to content mastery, Kendezi was the lowest (majority black students) and Howard was the highest (majority white students). Drew Charter was in the middle leaning toward higher content mastery scores and King was leaning toward the lower side. According to my data, I noticed a correlation between higher rate of students with disabilities in schools with high economic disadvantaged rates as well. This creates an academic disadvantage because the state doesn't provide additional funding for poverty concentrated areas. Considering that poverty rates correlate with student success, students in lower income areas are restricted from quality resources (which foster a quality education). The data is in our face and we must face it. This data is not only disheartening, but also discouraging to black students. Although they may not see the numbers, they can feel the disadvantage and the injustice that they face in the education system. They may not have the words for it but students from all four schools recognize the drastic difference in quality of education and resources that they have compared to the other schools. Drew Charter Schools is a direct product of where quality funding for resources can take students in an a predominantly black area with economically disadvantaged students. All educators need to take a deep dive into their students' community and understand the possible disadvantages and injustices they may face just being a resident of the area. This will improve teacher to student relations and enforce culturally relevant/responsive pedagogy into the classrooms. Building community is everything when it comes to education, and the first step to building community in the classroom is understanding the community in which your students come from. Below is the Community Asset Map which displays 5 places in the community of Drew Charter Schools that support students and their families:

Community Asset Map

1. East Lake Family YMCA- The YMCA is one of the leading non-profit organizations supporting youth development and cohesive community. It is also connected to Drew Charter School's Elementary Academy which is very convenient for middle school students who have younger siblings as well as elementary students needing a safe space afterschool.
2. Planned Parenthood- I know this can be a bit jarring when referring to middle schoolers, but planned parent provides the necessary support for students and family seeking medical assistance when it comes to pregnancy and how to move forward in whatever decision is made.
3. Decatur Cooperative Ministry- This organization supports individuals as well as families get back on their feet following a rough patch. Although it is a short-term shelter, it builds "long-term self-reliance."
4. Kirkwood Branch Library- This library, for a lot of students, is a place where they can study, read, or just relax in peace when home or the outdoor community doesn't suffice. This library also fosters learning outside of school hours as well as a reliable safe haven for students.
5. East Lake Park- This park is a space where the community can come together and do various outdoor activities. It promotes physical health and is an overall great asset to the community.

References